Sweet Pea (Vetchling)
Lathyrus odoratus. FABACEAE (LEGUMINOSAE).
Planting and Growing Sweet Pea
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow sweet pea in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of sweet pea
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for sweet pea
- Season of bloom and planting time for sweet pea
- When, how deep, and where to plant sweet pea
- How to plant sweet pea
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of sweet pea
- Landscape and container uses of sweet pea
- Comments about sweet pea and its features
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Growing Sweet Pea
Many cultivars of bushy or vining annual herbs, to 3 ft. (90 cm) tall or to 6 ft. (1.8 m) long. Alternate, smooth, bright green, lance- or oval-shaped, paired leaves to 2 in. (50 mm) long.
Common cultivars include Lathyrus odoratus ‘Antique Factory’, ‘Bijou Mixed’, ‘Little Sweeheart’, and ‘Royal Family’.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Many pink, purple, red, violet, white, pea- or snapdragon-like, fragrant flowers to 2 in. (50 mm) wide, often with mixed colors on a plant, in late spring–summer, forming pea pods in summer, to 2 in. (50 mm) long, containing multiple, pealike seeds.
Best Climates
Self-seeding, zones 2–10.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained loam. Fertility: Rich. 7.0–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Early spring in full sun, 6–12 in. (15–30 cm) apart, when soil is workable.
Proper Care
Moderate. Keep moist. Fertilize monthly. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong bloom. Stake vining cultivars. Protect from wind. Propagate by seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for accents, arbors, edgings, fencelines, massed plantings, trellises in cottage, formal, small-space gardens. Good for cutting. Disease resistant. Slug, snail susceptible. Collect seed pods when full, dry, remove seeds, cure, and store for replanting.
Warning:
While garden peas are edible (and delicious), the foliage, stems, leaves, roots, pods and seeds of Lathyrus odoratus are inedible because they contain the toxic compound, aminoproprionitrile, a neurotoxin, and are hazardous or potentially fatal if eaten.
Avoid planting in areas frequented by pets or children.